Badal orders speedy disbursement of relief to flood victims

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked state officials to ensure disbursement of relief to people affected in recent floods in an efficient and transparent manner.

The directions for speedy disbursement of aid were issued to State Relief, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management department officials, an official spokesman said here on Wednesday.

In a meeting to review the disbursement of relief, Badal directed the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, to ask Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officers to estimate the total loss due to crop damage and ensure payment of compensation before the onset of the Kharif season.

The CM said that PCS officers would be held accountable if any laxity was detected in the disbursement of relief.

Badal also directed the Principal Secretary, Irrigation, to prepare a time-bound action plan to find a permanent solution to the problem of water-logging after the recent floods in Malwa belt.

He also asked the PWD, Mandi Board and Rural Development officials and Panchayats to chalk out a joint strategy to repair rural link roads which were damaged in the floods.
He also asked the Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation, to ensure repair of damaged pipelines and restore domestic supply at the earliest.
The spokesman said that so far, around 41 persons have died, 13,000 houses have been washed away and crops spread over an area of around 4.10 lakh acres have been damaged in the floods which has also taken a toll of 414 cattle.